History Forum

There were many chages.  Most obviously, advances in weaponry were a key change.  At the beginning of the 19th century, wars were still fought with forward loading muskets whih had to be turned around to be loaded.  By the time of the US Civil War, breech loading rifles (you can relod at the area of te rifle closest to your hand) and better bullets and improvements which made aim and distance better, had created a situation where old styles of fighting became inadequete, and even obsolete.  During the Civil War, a pototype o the machine gun was first used.  Another key advance was in the area of logistcs: the organisation of a war.  With the railway and telegraph, the movement of troops nd food became easier, thereby allowing for larger armies who could stay on the field of battle for longer.  This mean battles became longer. 
  By the start of the Great War, weopenry had advanced much frther.  The machine gun had been perfected, and artillery was impressive.  Unfortunately, no one seemed t grasp the realities such a clash of arms would produce, and soldiers began the war fighting ion the style of 1815... using Napoleonic tactics.  The result was bloodshed and then entrenchment and stalemate.